Gu Qingcheng didn't notice, not because her vigilance was low, but because the tracking skills of these two groups were truly superb, honed through professional training.
Having no prior experience of being followed, Gu Qingcheng lacked the awareness and alertness for counter-surveillance, and thus easily overlooked them.
These two groups employed different tracking techniques, and in the process of following Gu Qingcheng, they inadvertently discovered each other's presence.
The two parties exchanged glances, realizing that more than one force was targeting this Young Master Gu.
Each group harbored their own suspicions. Seeing Gu Qingcheng return to the inn, they dispersed like startled birds.
Back at the inn, Wang Dapeng, seeing Gu Qingcheng and Mi Guo return, approached them nervously, his face etched with a hint of shame. "Young Master Gu," he began, "I seem to recall something from last night after we were drinking. Did I promise Miss Yan Hong anything?"
Wang Dapeng truly couldn't remember. He had tried his best to recall, only remembering Miss Yan Hong's seductive face flickering before his eyes. No, he seemed to have also touched her hand.
Gu Qingcheng observed Wang Dapeng's distracted demeanor and was genuinely taken aback. She felt she had scared him enough; any more, and he might fall into a state of melancholy.
With a chuckle, she asked, "What do you think of the Yi Hong Yuan?"
"What do I think of it? I'll never go there again," Wang Dapeng huffed, defensively explaining, "Actually, I didn't want to go yesterday. It was just because Boss Du led you all in, so I had to follow, right? To protect you all! Alas, you are still young, but I am old. I never expected to fall into such a trap." Wang Dapeng sighed.
"Oh, so you're blaming us now?" Mi Guo teased.
Wang Dapeng quickly shook his head, assuring them he wasn't blaming Gu Qingcheng and the others. "I can only blame myself for lacking in self-control. When I heard Miss Yan Hong speak of her pitiable circumstances, I couldn't help but feel sympathy and chatted with her for a few more words."
Gu Qingcheng smiled. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. The truth is, last night you were indeed quite affectionate with Miss Yan Hong and exchanged many words!"
Gu Qingcheng's strategy of initially suppressing and then uplifting Wang Dapeng's spirits had an effect. Wang Dapeng, not expecting the situation to be true, blushed as red as a scarlet cloth.
"Please, please don't tell my wife. She'll cry with anger." Wang Dapeng anxiously rubbed his hands. His rough hands twisted and turned like dough, like a clumsy child.
Gu Qingcheng let out a soft "hmph." "Don't worry, we won't. It's really no big deal. You just had a few whispered conversations with that Miss Yan Hong. Later, after drinking too much, we helped you back."
"Is that truly all that happened?" Wang Dapeng felt incredibly embarrassed. His alcohol tolerance wasn't great, and after only a few drinks, he'd blacked out.
Gu Qingcheng stated earnestly, "That's precisely how it happened, no issues at all. Otherwise, how could Mi Guo and I have brought you back? Mi Guo even took care of you all night. Rest assured, no other young lady came near you." Gu Qingcheng's words made Wang Dapeng sound like a paragon of chastity and integrity.
Relieved, Wang Dapeng finally relaxed, the day-long anxiety dissolving. "Thank you, Young Master Gu, thank you, Young Master Mi Guo, for taking care of me. It was my dereliction of duty. I should have been protecting you, but instead, you protected me."
"As our business expands, there will be even more such social engagements in the future. Yesterday evening, accompanying Boss Du and the others to Yi Hong Yuan, I was also in the wrong. I had never been to such a place before, so I went with a mindset of observing the spectacle. I wanted to see what they would do to us, if they intended to set a trap. Now, thinking back, if they try this again, we don't have to go along with it. We need to earn money from the freight terminal, and they are the ones seeking our services, not the other way around. We shouldn't cater to them; doing so only emboldens them."
Gu Qingcheng's words caused Wang Dapeng to nod like a chicken pecking at rice. Mi Guo secretly thought, "Sister is magnificent!"
"From now on, if they invite me to such places again, I will resolutely refuse. It's much better to return for tea," Wang Dapeng finally regained some of his confidence. Knowing he hadn't done anything wrong, he felt much more at ease and settled.
"By the way, why don't we set up a tea room? After drinking, we'll have a place to sober up. We could have a gentleman play the guzheng or pluck the pipa with our tea, wouldn't that be wonderful? Why must it be Yi Hong Yuan?" Gu Qingcheng mused.
She understood that consumption of cultural and entertainment activities was inevitable. However, the current options were limited to eateries or places like Yi Hong Yuan. She considered that if her subordinates from Phoenix Village, including herself, still felt unsatisfied after the first round of socializing and wanted to chat, they needed a place to go. Bringing people home was out of the question. In Gu Qingcheng's view, home was a private space, and she would never bring guests there.
Upon further reflection, based on her understanding of Tea House Island these past few days, there weren't many better places for leisure and conversation. Opening a tea room seemed like a good idea. Moreover, she and her father had previously acquired a significant amount of tea from various tea houses without spending a cent, so the tea supply for a tea room wouldn't be an issue. Additionally, the 'Mountain Cat' supermarket offered fine teas from around the world, which she could exchange for to supplement their inventory.
The more Gu Qingcheng thought about it, the more excited she became, and she shared this idea with Wang Dapeng and Mi Guo. They both agreed it was an excellent suggestion. After the previous night's ordeal, Wang Dapeng felt that a second venue for release was indeed necessary.
Thus, the task naturally fell to the middleman, Old Hu. When Old Hu heard about the plan to open a tea room, with Young Master Gu funding it, his eyes lit up like an owl's. He quickly began to flatter, "Young Master Gu is truly a person of refined taste. Tea House Island indeed lacks a tea room of decent caliber. There were a couple of small tea houses before, but their environments were too rudimentary; they were merely places to drink tea to quench thirst and were unworthy of a distinguished guest like yourself, Young Master Gu."
Young Master Gu's investments were steadily growing, indicating his intention to develop here long-term. Old Hu had recently been closely clinging to Young Master Gu's coattails and had made a small fortune. Naturally, he wished for Gu Qingcheng never to leave Tea House Island. Old Hu also wanted to acquire some shares in the freight terminal investment. Any fool would know that investing in a freight terminal was highly profitable. While the initial investment was substantial, the returns would be endless once the capital was recouped, essentially establishing a legacy for his descendants. How could he not be solicitous?
Gu Qingcheng instructed Old Hu to find a bustling location for the tea room, somewhere quiet yet central, preferably near the street of eateries. That way, after a satisfying meal, people could easily stroll over.
"Young Master Gu, rest assured. You state your requirements, and I will handle everything else to your satisfaction. I will even have someone propose a renovation and layout plan for your approval," Old Hu declared with a pat on his chest.